Street sign



w. vG. KEITH Sept. 16, 1930.

jar/022571' Patented Sept. 16, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM G. KEITH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WELSBACH TRAFFIC SIGNAL COMPANY, 01E* PHILADELPHIA, PENN SYLYANIA, A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE s STREET Y sienv ApplicationV filed July 31,

This invention relates to`signs and has special reference to non-illuminated signs which are readily discernible under all normal conditions and which are practically nondeteriorating under all weather conditions.

More particularly this invention relates to a non-illuminated sign comprising aframe having a backing member, preferably of a reebony, these particular substances ordinarily having a tensile strength which exceeds that of steel. Further, these materials are waterproof and will not warp when exposed `to various climatic changes and conditions. v The backing member is preferably formed of a soft resilient material such as soft rubber which has a natural reddish color and is not adversely affected-by rain or other climatic conditions. On the contrary, rain is desirable to clean the sign of such dust and dirt as may accumulate thereon, although from the description of the construction which will hereinafter be recited, it will be apparent that very little foreign matter may accumulate.`

It is well known that painted signs fadev and become quite illegible ina comparatively 1 One of the objects of this invention is tovv short period of time. However,'inthe description of the present invention it will be noted that the materials entering into the construction depend forv their Y contrasting colors uponthe `inherent characteristics of the provide a sign which is legible under all noriezs. serial No. 296,516.

vmal `conditions and at all times. A further object of this invention is to provide'a sign which is inexpensivel to manufacture, easy to assemble and is not adversely affected by various climatic changes and conditions. y, A still further object of this invention is to provide a sign which Ywill not fade and Vwhich will not deteriorate to any substantial silient material centrally disposed therein,

and a plurality of plates disposed on each side degree; V

Further objects and advantages will be hereinafter describedand for a more complete description of thecharacteristic features of this invention, reference may now be had to the following description and the acM companying drawing; in which latter z' Figure 1 1s a front elevational vew of a sign embodying the features of thisinven- Vtion Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on theline 2 2 of Fig. 1; andV Fig. 3 is a perspective -view of one of the character plates. l

Referring now more particularly tothe drawing, this `invention is embodied ina street sign, such as is normally located atA street intersections, Vcomprising a pair 4of name plates 10 and 11 disposed at rightangles to each other and secured together in any usual manner. Ordinarilythese intersecting name plateslO and 11 are bolted tothe top of an upright 12 whereby the sign is spaced from the ground at a convenient position to both motorists and pedestrians. However, it is not to be understood that this invention is to be limited to the sign illustrated in the drawing and that various other functions may beundertaken by the construction which Vvvillhereinafter be recited; for example, aV construction may be adapted for use as a `house number, as direction means for tour-v 'ist-s and as various other indicatingmembers.

The name plate 11 preferably comprises a frame member 13 having a flange member 14 `preferably integrally formed therewith and ,extending at right angles thereto to form am holder to receive a .plurality ofplates 15.`

Y The plates l5 are disposed in the frame in a spaced back to back relation Vand have a soft resilient backin'gmember' 16 disposed therebetween. Aclamping' member 17 is suitably secured to the flange 14 of the frame member and clamps the plate members 15 against the frame 13. The normal Width of the plate members, together With the backing members 16, is a trifle greater than the depth of the flange 14 and, therefore, when the clamping member 17 is urged against the outer plate member 15 a port-ion of the material of the backing member 16 is forced to expand into the apertures 18 formed in the plates 15.

Referring particularly to Fig. 2 it will be noted that the resilient material 16 is considerably thicker along the portion indicated as the aperture 18 and that it is con siderably smaller between the material of the plate members. This provides, of course, for a Water-proof construction and minimizes the space in Which foreign substances can gather.

The plates 15 may be formed in a manner so as to interlock with adjacent plates. In the drawing a half lap joint has been shown for which, of course, various other joints could be substituted. In assembling the plates 15 in the frame the clamping member 17 is, of course, removed and the plates are organized in a manner desired and placed on the frame 13. After the name, number, or the like, has been formed by means of various plates having different characters thereon being disposed adjacent each other and being locked together, a backing member 16 is placed thereon and another group of plates 15 are organized in a manner similar to the first described plates 15. The clamping member 17 is then positioned on the flange 14 and is screwed thereto, or otherwise suitably secured, whereby the plates 15 are urged together and a portion of the material of the resilient material 16 of the backing member is forced out into the apertures. The name on 'the name plate 11 may therefore be read from either side, and the same backing member is used for either group of plates.

The plate member 15 is preferably formed of bakelite or an analogous material and is colored black to give a dull ebony-like appearance. rIhe dull appearance is given to avoid the reflecting surface which a polished surface would give. The plate is colored through and through and will hereinafter be referred to in the claims as being of a natural color, the distinction to be noted being that the color is not merely paint-ed on.

The backing member 16 has 'been referred to as being of a soft resilient material. This material may be of the ordinary soft rubber of a reddish or pinkish tint, this color likewise being referred to as a natural color for the reason that the material is of the same color throughout its mass. Further, it is believed that this color is in reality its natural color, although any desirable color may be substituted as long as it is not vmerely but a surface tint but extends throughout the mass.

Thus, ive have a plate member 15 with a particular character formed therein by means of its being apertured, the aperture in the plate outlining the character on the backing member, the color of the backing member contrasting with the color of the plate. By reason of the natural colors entering into the construction, the sign will be substantially everlasting and will not fade. rlhe materials are Water-proof and will not Vbe adversely affected by rain or other climatic conditions, the rain, as hereinbefore stated, cleaning the sign of dirt and foreign matter. It Will be particularly noted that, in addition to the plates 15 being of a character which will not fade, the durability thereof is furthered by the fact that it has a high tensile strength.

lVhile but a single embodiment of this invention is herein shown and described, it is to he understood that various modifications thereof may be apparent to those skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention and, therefore, the same is to be limited only by the scope of the irior art and the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising a frame, a backing member of a soft resilient material disposed therein, and a rigid face plate adjacent said backing member held in a snug engagement therewith, said face plate having an opening therethroungh to outline a character on said backing member. Y

2. A device of the character described comprising a frame, a backing member of a soft resilient material disposed therein, and a plurality of interlocking rigid plate members held in a snug engagement with said backing member, said face plates having openings therethrough to out-line characters on said backing member.

3. A device of the character `described comprising a frame, a backing member of a soft resilient material disposed therein, and a pluralit i of interlocking rigid plate members held. in a snug engagement With said backing member, said face plates being of a color contrasting with that of said backing member and having openings therethrough to outline characters on said backing member.

4. A device of the character described comprising a frame, a backing member of a soft resilient material disposed therein, rigid plates disposed on each side of said backing member and held in a snug engagement therewith, said plates having openings therethrough to outline characters on said backing members.

5. A device of the character described com# prising a frame, a plurality of non-yieldable plate members disposed therein and having various shaped openings therethrough to indicate various characters, and a backing member of a yieldable materialr pressed against said plate members, said backing member being of a natural color contrasting with the natural color of said plate members.

6. A device of the character described comprising a frame, a plurality of plate members of a dull dark natural color disposed therein, said plate members having openings therethrough to indicate various characters, and a backing member of a soft resilient material urged in a slightly compressed relation by means of said frame, said backing member being of a natural light color whereby characters are definitely outlined thereon by said openings in said plates.

7. A device of the character described comprising a frame, a plurality of plate members arranged back to back therein in a spaced relation with each other, said plates having openings therethrough to indicate characters, a soft resilient backing material disposed in the space between said members, said frame compressing said backing material between said members whereby a portion thereof extends into said openings.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name. i

A WILLIAM G. KEITH. 

